HISTORY OF TAEKWON-DO

Although the origins of the martial arts are unknown, it is a resonable assumption that from the beginning of man kind there have been physical actions involving the use of the hands and feet for purpose of self-protection.

Modern Taekwon-Do differs greatly from other martial arts. In fact, no other martial art is so advanced with regard to the sophistication and effectiveness of its technique or the over-all physical fitness it imparts to its practitioners.

Since the theories, terminology, techniques, systems, methods, rules and spiritual foundation were scientifically developed, systematized, and named by the founder, it is an error to think of any physical actions employing the hand and feet for self-defence as Taekwon-Do. Only those who practice the techniques based on the author's theories, principles and philosophy are considered to be students of genuine Taekwon-Do.

WHERE DID TAEKWON-DO ORIGINATE?

General Choi had previous training in a Korean martial art called Taek Kyon, During the occupation for 36 years by Japan, General choi spent considerable time in Japan where he learnt Karate. Following Koreas liberated in 1945, he was placed in a privileged position as a founding member of the newly formed South Korean Armed Forces.

This gave general Choi the opertunity to expand Taekwondo teaching throughout the entire armed forces, despite furious opposition.

In addition, these were violent times, when people felt the need for a means of protecting themselves, and the superiority of Taekwon-Do technique came to be widely recognized.

General choi was encouraged to learn Taek Kyon at the age of fifteen by his teacher of calligraphy. In 1938, a few days before he was due to leave Korea to study in Japan he was involved in an unexpected incident that would have made it difficult to return home without risk of reprisal.

He resolved to become a black belt holder in Karate while in Japan. Not only was he able to return to Korea, but subsequently initiated the national liberation movement known as the Pyongyang Student Soldier's Incident. His actions aroused the wrath of those in positions of power. He was imprisoned for a time in a Japanese army jail. In January of 1946, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Republic of Korea army and posted to the 4th infantry regiment in Kwangju, Cholla Namdo Province as a company commander.

He taught Karate to my soldiers as a means of physical and mental training.He quickly realised that he needed to develop a korean national martial art, superior in both spirit and technique to Japanese Karate. I strongly believed that teaching it throughout the country would enable me to fulfill the pledge I had made to three of my comrades, who had shared my imprisonment by the Japanese.

He began to develop new techniques, systematically, from March of that same year. By the end of 1954 he had nearly completed the foundation of a new martial art for Korea, and on April 11, 1955, it was given the name "Taekwon-Do".

The physical techniques of Taekwon-Do are based on the principles of modern science, in particular, Newtonian physics which teaches us how to generate maximum power. Military tactics of attack and defence have also been incorporated.

He made it clear that although Karate and Taek Kyon were used as references in the course of his study, the fundamental theories and principles of Taekwon-Do are totally different from those of any other martial art in the world.

In March of 1959, General choi led the military Taekwon-Do demonstration team on a tour abroad. They visited South Vietnam and Taiwan. It was the first such visit in the history of Korea. On this occasion, he renewed his resolution to leave his personal legacy to the world, in the form of Taekwon-Do, and he formulated the following basic ideals for the Taekwon-Do practitioners:

1. By developing an upright mind and a strong body, we will acquire the self-confidence to stand on the side of justice at all times;
2. We shall unite with all men in a common brotherhood, without regard to religion, race, national or ideological boundaries;
3. We shall dedicate ourselves to building a peaceful human society in which justice, morality, trust and humanism prevail;

He also dedicate himself to the world-wide propagation of Taekwon-Do, in the sincere hope that it would provide the means by which the unification of the divided halves of his fatherland would become possible.

If we consider ourselves as one with Taekwon-Do, we will respect it as we respect our own bodies and Taekwon-Do will never be used in a dishonorable way.

The names of the patterns are derived from the most illustrious people to have been produced by nearly five thousand years of Korean history. A proper understanding of the patterns leads, inevitably to the realization that Taekwon-Do is a martial art to be used only for self-defence and only in the cause of justice.

The history of Korea contains not a single sample of its military forces being employed for the invasion of its neighbors or for any other purpose except national defence.

In the technical area, he created a wide variety of techniques that can be used in almost any situation. They are based on the following principles:

1. all movement should be designed to produce maximum power in accordance with scientific formulas and the principle of kinetic energy;
2. the principles behind the techniques should be so clear that even those ignorant to Taekwon-Do will be able to distinguish correct from incorrect movement;
3. the distance and angle of each movement should be exactly defined in order to achieve more efficient attack and defence;
4. the purpose and method of each movement should be clear and simple, in order to facilitate the teaching and learning process;
5. rational teaching methods should be developed so that the benefits of Taekwon-Do can be enjoyed by everyone, young and old, men and women;
6. correct breathing methods should be devised, enhancing the speed of each movement and reducing fatigue;
7. attack should be possible against any vital spot on the body and it should be possible to defend against all varieties of attack;
8. each attacking tool should be clearly defined and soundly based on the structure of the human body;
9. each movement should be easy to execute, enabling the student to enjoy Taekwon-Do as a sport and recreation;
10. special consideration should be paid to promoting good health and preventing injuries;
11. each movement should be harmonious and rhythmical so that Taekwon-Do is aesthetically pleasing;
12. each movement in a pattern must express the personality and spiritual character of the person it is named after.

Adherence to these basic principles is what makes Taekwon-Do a martial art, an aesthetic art, a science and sport.